Boulder City, NV - The 2004 Camp Directors’ Conference sponsored by The Order of St. Ignatius of Antioch was held at the Life-Giving Spring Retreat Center in Boulder City, Nevada on January 22 – 25. Clergy, camp directors, counselors, and staff from various Orthodox jurisdictions (Antiochian Archdiocese, Greek Archdiocese, Ukranian Orthodox Church, Carpatho-Russian Diocese of America, and the Orthodox Church in America) met to discuss issues related to camp community and life. Fr. Thomas Hopko, former Dean of St. Vladimir’s Seminary in Crestwood, New York, was the featured speaker for the retreat and gave three presentations on the topic “Camp Staff as an Image of Christ”. His lectures focused on many areas of camp life; staff selection criteria, camp dress code, making God relevant in the life of youth, and issues related to the liturgical “do’s and don’ts” of camp.

The conference proved to be a wonderful experience. It helped those involved with camps and youth ministry focus on what is most important – leading our Youth to Christ. As Fr. Thomas Hopko stated, “fill our youth with good stuff” and life will teach them the rest. Our job is to plant seeds, so that when our youth face hard times, they will turn to God.

Other guest speakers for the conference included Doria Saros, with her topic “Got Staff?... Issues of Staff Selection”, Fr. Lawrence Goudreau on the topic of “Fundraising”, Khalil Samara on “Best Practices (and worst too!)”, Bill Tragus and “Equipping Your Staff”, Fr. Michael Nasser as the moderator of a Q&A with a speaker panel, and Ed Metzendorf with a presentation on bunk1.com (an internet ministry tool). Fr. Mark Leondis and Fr. Constantine Lazarakis led fun-filled evening sessions where camp ideas, activities, and songs where shared.
The weekend was a great bonding experience for those that attended the conference. We felt connected not only because we share similar problems and concerns at our camps and retreats, but we share the same faith and the same vocation to reach out to the youth of our Church. On Saturday, the group took a boat cruise on Lake Mead and visited the Hoover Dam. Next year the Camp Directors’ Conference will be sponsored by the Ukranian Orthodox Church. Information regarding the conference will be available soon. Contact Natalie Kapeluck, Youth Director of the Ukranian Orthodox Church for more details.